Comparative Studies of selected browses of South-Southern part of Nigeria with particular reference to their proximate and some anti-nutritional constituents in different locations

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the influence of locations on the proximate chemical composition and some anti- nutritional components of some samples of browse plant leaves. Five samples each of the leaves of commonly utilized browse plants were sourced from each study location, these were; Gmelina arborea, Daniella oliveri, Sarcophalus, latifolia, Vitex doniana and Ficus thoningii. These were harvested from Obubra in Cross River State and Idoro in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and used for the study. Generally, few variability was recorded in both locations with values of percentages crude protein (CP) (17.50 to 26.25), crude fibre (26.15 to 45.30), Ash (5.15 to 14.90), ether extract (1.99 to 13.60), nitrogen free extract (7.20 to 41.51) and moisture content (26.29-73.20) which appeared to be relatively higher in samples from Akwa Ibom. The concentration of anti-nutritional factors were generally also low in both location. Phytate 0.21 to 4.03, oxalate 0.35 to 13.30, saponins 0.002 to 3.60, tannin content ranged from 0.35 to 5.10 and alkaloids 0.001 to 2.38. The results showed that the browse plants studied have good levels of nutrients, low and safe levels of anti-nutritional factors. Based on these results, it is therefore recommended that, the browse plants may be actively used in the feeding of livestock in the two locations where it is even seem to be luxuriant and available during the dry season.